Strap-lock for containers



' R.'c. GRIFFITH. STRAP LOCK FOR CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2!. 192k Patented May 31 ,1921.

UNITED STATES ROBERT C. GRIFFITH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

STRAP-LOCK FOR CONTAINERS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1921.

Application filed February 21, 1921. Serial No. 446,604.

T 0 all w ham it may concern e it known that 1, ROBERT C. GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Strap-Locks for Containers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient means for locking the extremities of binding or reinforcing straps of metal, such as are or may be employed in connection with shipping receptacles or containers of a more or less fragile construction to prevent the distortion or breakage thereof in transportation incident to the rough handling to which such devices are ordinarily subjected; and more especially to provide a means for locking the ends of straps which may be used in connection with corrugated or paste board containers which at present are reinforced only by binding means such as adhesive tape at the angles, and which would be vastly strengthened by metallic straps extended longitudinally and transversely around the package in intersecting planes, if held at a suitable tension to maintain a proper relation, angularly, between the planes of the walls of said containers; and with this object in view the invention consists in a construction and combination of which a preferred embodiment is shown in the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box or container suitable for use in shipping goods of various kinds around which in intersecting planes are arranged binding or reinforcing straps secured at their terminals by a lock embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail enlarged sectional View of the strap lock showing the adjacent ends of the straps in operative relation therewith.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the locking disk.

Fig. 4: is a detail section of the disk on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 to show the relations of the parts thereof before the strap ends are engaged therewith.

The binding straps 10 of metal are arranged in longitudinal and transverse planes embracing the box or receptacle 11 which may be of card board, corrugated board or like material requiring reinforcement to afford the necessary strength in transportation and handling, and the free ends of the straps are connected by a locking disk 12 with which the extremities of the straps are interlocked and are held under tension to brace the box or container.

The locking device preferably is constructed in the form of a disk, which however, may be of any desired diameter to suit the specific purpose for which it is used or the size or weight of the box or container to be secured thereby, the same being provided in radial series with parallel spaced inner and outer slots 13 and 14 of a length corresponding with the width of the strap to permit the latter to be threaded freely therethrough, and the sections or areas 15 and 16, respectively between said slots and between the outer slot and the periphery of the disk are respectively raised and depressed,

or at least are arranged relatively in elevated and depressed planes, as by depressing the area or section 16 to facilitate the threading of the strap end successively through the slots 14 and 13 or from the periphery of the disk inward, each strap lying on the depressed section or area 16 and extending under the area or section 15, and the ends of the straps are then extended through the slots 13 and folded or bent outward to form crimps or loops 17 which may be flattened as by a hammer blow or the like to insure a firm engagement. The straps may be placed under any desired longitudinal tension, after the ends thereof have been threaded to the inner slots 13, before the extremities are turned outward and secured as above described, so as to afford any desired compressive action to strengthen the box.

To facilitate the introduction of the strap ends the areas or sections 18 of the disks. adjacent to the slots 13 are preferably split slightly at the ends as shown at 19 and are deflected downward or inward to form lips 20 as shown in Fig. 41, and when the crimps or loops of the straps are flattened as above described by a hammer blow or the like, these lips are likewise flattened or brought into the plane of the disk, as indicated in Fig. 2, to further insure the locking of the stra ends to the disk.

aving thus described the I claim is 2- 1. A locking device for the extremities of intersecting binding straps consisting of a disk having radial series of parallel, slots invention, what through which the extremities of the straps may be respectively threaded.

2. A locking device for the extremities of intersecting binding straps consisting 01 a disk having radial series of parallel slots through which the extremities of the straps maybe respectively threaded, the sections or areas of the disk adjacent to said slots being alternately offset in opposite direction.

8. A locking device for the extremities of intersecting binding straps consisting of a disk having radial series of parallel slots through which the extremities of the straps may be respectively threaded, and being provided at the inner sides of the inner slots with inwardly deflected guide lips.

4:. The combination with binding straps arranged in intersecting planes of a locking dis-k having radial series of inner and outer parallel slots through which the strap ends maybe threaded, the extremities of the straps being criniped or folded outward to form loops to engage the edges or" the inner slots.

5. The combination with binding straps arranged in intersecting planes of a locking disk having radial series of inner and outer parallel slots through which the strap ends may be threaded, the extremities of the straps being crimped or folded outward. to form loops to engage the edges of the inner slots, the portions or sections of the disk between tne outer slots and the periphery of the disk being depressed.

6. The combination with binding straps arranged in intersecting planes of a locking disk havingradial series of inner and outer parallel slots through which the strap ends may be threaded, the xtremities of the straps being crimped or folded outward to form loops to engage the edges of the inner slots, the portions or" the disk between the said inner and outer slots being disposed in a plane offset from the adjacent portions of the disk.

7. The combination with binding straps arranged in intersecting planes of a locking disk having radial series of inner and outer parallel slots through which the strap ends be threaded, the extremities of the straps being crimped or folded outward to form loops to engage the edges of the inner slots, the portions of the disk at the inner sides or the inner slots being deflected from the plane of the disk to form guiding lips.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of witnesses.

ROBT. G. GRIFFITH. 

